Improvement in corpse coolers or caskets



4 Sheets-Sheet I.

E. HOLMES.

Corpse Cooler or Gasket.

No. 211.907. Patented Feb. 4 I879 INVENTOR I flaw Mr I WlTNESSES N.F'ETERS, FHOTO-LHHQGRA PQER, WASHINGTON D 0.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2. B. HOLMES.

Corpse Cooler or Casket;

No. 211.907. i;

Patented Feb. 4,1879.

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RA rgfi INVE TOR 5; ygm I AIIQRNEY NFETERS, PHOTO-LI'THDGEAPHER, WASHINGTON. 11.0.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. HOLMES. Corpse Cooler or Gasket. No.-2H,90 7. Patented Feb.-4, 1879.

- -w|TNEssE INVENT I;

N.PETERS, PHOTD-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. Dr C,

4 sheets-sheet 4.

E. HOLMES.

Corpse Cooler 0r Gasket.

$10,211,907. Pate ryted Feb. 4,1879.

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"Unrrnn STA'rns PATENT FFIGE.

EBENEZER HOLMES, OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORPSE COOLERS OR GASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,907, dated February 4, 1879 application filed October 29,1878.

To all whom itwnay concern: 1

Be it known that I, EBENEZER HoLMEs, of Saratoga Springs, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corpse Coolers or Gaskets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in corpse coolers or caskets.

The invention consists, first, in the combination, with a cooling-rack, of a head-rest' hinged to one end of said rack, and a vertically-adjustable head-support connected with said head-rest.

My inventionfurther consists in the combination, with a cooling-rack, of a head rest hinged to one end of said rack, and adapted to be folded down thereupon, and a vertically and axially adjustable head-support connected J with said head-rest.

My invention further consists in the combination, with a cooling-rack, of a head-rest hinged to one end of said rack, and adapted to be folded down thereupon, and a ringshaped headsupport connected with said hinged rest, and means for adjusting the ring both vertically and axially.

case of a corpse-preserv'er, and a verticallyadjustable rack-support connected with said screw.

My invention further consists in the combination, with the cooling-rack, of removable supports for retaining the ice-receptacles in desired position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved casket. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved ice-casket. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 4. is a plan view of the cooling-rack. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cooling-rack having the portable icereceptacles supported thereon. Fig. 7 is a View, in perspective, of one of the portable ice-receptacles which is placed in the body portion of the casket. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the ice-receptacle which is placed at the head of the casket. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view, in perspective, of the head-support when folded down upon the cooling-rack. Fig. 10 is a similar view, showing the rack secured in vertical position. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the rack provided with attachments for supporting the portable ice-receptacles.

A represents the body of the casket, and B the cover.

The upper and lower sections, A B, are preferably made of black walnut or similar wood, and furnished with paneled and molded outer surface to insure a hi ghly-finished outer appearance.

The upper section, B, is made with its sides and ends formed of double walls a a thereby constituting an intervening air-space, a which extends entirely around the cover.

The top is provided with a close panel, I), and a removable frame, I), in which is secured a glass panel, b i

A removable wooden panel, b fits within the frame I), and is secured thereto bycatches or any suitable devices, whereby it may be readily removed when it' is desired to expose the interior of the casket to view, without removing theentire cover B.

In each end of the cover 13 is formed an airpassage, 1), which serves to admit of a free circulation of air within and through the doublewalled top or cover, and thus prevent the gathering of dampness on the same.

constituting an air-chamber about the entire inner surface of the lower section, A. The

ends 0 c are provided with air-passages D D, and a valve, D is arranged so that one of said passages may be opened and closed.

This construction of parts admits of a free circulation of air between the inner and outer walls of the body or lower section of the casket, and thus the material thereof may be kept dry and in proper condition for use.

The upper edge of the lower section, A, is constructed with a rabbet, d, within which fits the depending flange d on the cover B, and thus a tight joint is furnished, and the escape of foul or tainted air from the casket prevented.

E is a screw, locatedeat one end of the lower section, A, of the casket, and supported in bearings e 0 The upper end of the screw is provided with a rod or handle, 0 for operating the same.

F is a platform attached to a bar, F which latter is perforated at one end and fitted to the screw E, whereby, the latter being turned, the platform F will be raised or lowered, according as the screw is turned to the right or left. In one end of the lower section, A, of the casket is fitted a tube, F which extends through the double bottom thereof. The upper end of the tube is provided with a screw-valve, f. This valve being removed, any water that has accumulated in the casket may be withdrawn into any suitable receptacle placed beneath the casket.

G is a cooling-rack, constructed of any desired number of longitudinal slats g, secured in place by cross-bars g and end pieces, 9 To the end pieces, g are hinged the folding supports H H, the latter being adapted and arranged to fold against the under side of the rack when the latter is placed within the casket, as represented in Fig. 1. When the rack is in the casket, one end thereof will be supported by the flat side of the folding support H, and the opposite end be placed upon the verticallyadjustable platform F. By turning the adjusting-screw, the head of the corpse placed on the cooling-rack may be raised and sustained within any desired distance from the glass panel in the coverB of the casket. This method of adjustment is most perfect in actual practice, as the appliances are within easy reach of the undertaker, the handle of the screw being located near the top of the lower section, A. Head -rest I is hinged to one end of the cooling-rack, so that it may be folded down upon the rack, and in such position serve as a stationary or non-adjustable head-rest, the same being employed in such manner when the cooling-rack is used as a laying-out rack. Head-rest I may be raised and held in an upright or vertical position by means of a spring, I. A thumb-bolt, i, being pressed, releases the spring I, and enables the rest to be folded down upon the rack. J is a rack-bar attached to the head-rest I, said rack-bar having any desired number of teeth j formed on one edge or side thereof. J is an adjustable bar, provided with a head,

j, which has an elongated slot formed therein, 7

the bar the wall forming the elongated slot engages with the teeth on the rack, thus sustaining the bar in any desired position. The outer end of the vertically-adjustable bar is round, for the reception of a sleeve, j, connected with the head-support K, the sleeve being provided with a set-screw, k, for securing the head-support at any desired angle of adjustment.

Head-support K is constructed of an oval ring, K, which is secured to the sleeve j, the ring allowing the head to be placed thereon, and constituting a firm support therefor, and also allowing the hair to be passed through the ring, and thus assist in steadying the head.

L represents the non-dripping ice-receptacles, and are of any desired size, but are preferably of such size that when filled with ice they may be readily handled by two attendants, and thereby serve the same purpose as that of an ordinary tub, which is now generally used by undertakers for such purposes. Tanks L are constructed with concave bottoms Z, so that the lower surface of the tank -may be brought in close proximity/c0 the corpse.

M are handles hinged to the inner sides of the end pieces, m, of the icereceptacles. When the tanks are placed in the casket the handles are turned down within the ice-receptacles out of the way. 7

N is an ice-receptacle, of proper form to be placed at the head of the casket, and is supported upon cleats n a, secured to the sides of the casket. Ice-receptacle N has a semicircular depression, n formed therein, for the reception of the screw employed in adjusting the cooling-rack. WVhen the ice-receptacles are filled with ice and placed within the casket, and in proper position over the corpse, the water resulting from the gradual melting of the ice will be retained in the tanks or receptacles, and thus the cold will be preserved for a much longer period than is the case where the water is allowed to run into tubs or other receptacles situated beneath the casket.

Again, there is no danger of soiling carpets by the employment of my improved ice-casket, as the latter is perfectly water-tight, and all the water resulting from the melting of the ice is retained in the ice-receptacles, and may be carried out in the same.

It is sometimes the case that it is objectionable to have a casket taken through a hotel during the day, and hence I have provided means for obviating such objections by providing the cooling-rack with attachments whereby the ice-receptacles may be supported thereupon, thus constituting a temporary pre server, and dispensing with the employment of the outer case. The following means are used for this purpose: To the side rails of the cooling-rack are secured the staples 0. Supports P are removably secured to staples 0 by means of the bolts or pins These supports I? being secured in place, and the folding supports turned down, the rack is sustained at the proper height. The ice-receptacles are then placed upon the rack over the corpse, the edges of the ice-receptacles resting upon the support P.

The head of the rack is provided with a re movable support, Q, upon which is placed the ice-receptacle formed for thehead of the casket. It will thus be observed that an almost complete preserver is provided without the employment of the casket.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a cooling-rack, of a head-rest hinged to one end of said rack, and a vertically-adj ustable head-support connected with said head-rest, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a cooling-rack, of a head-rest hinged to one end of said rack, and adapted to be folded down thereupon, and a vertically and axially adjustable head-support connected with said head-rest, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a cooling-rack, of

a head-rest hinged to one end of said rack, and adapted to be folded down thereupon, and a ring-shaped head support connected with said hinged rest, and means for adjusting the ring both vertically and axially, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a cooling-rack, of a head-support hinged to one end thereof, and adapted to be folded thereupon, said head-rest provided with a rack-bar, and an axially-adjustable ring-shaped head-support connected with the rack-bar by a bar having a loop formed on one end thereof, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a cooling-rack, of a screw supported in bear-in gs attached to one end of the case of a corpse-preserver, and a vertically-adj ustable rack-support connected with said screw, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the cooling-rack, of removable supports for retaining the ice-receptacles in desiredposition, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of October, 1878.

EB ENEZER HOLMES.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. CARR, JOHN RYAN. 

